319-274-1904

Neither I nor my family have ever had Direct TV, so I have no idea how they got my number... and they continue to call me... UGH it's so annoying!

After continued problems with their service, we canceled our contract in march. We even paid the "early termination fee"...$140.00! It took over a month to get them to send the return shipping boxes. Every time we called to ask why we hadn't received the boxes yet we were told that we never requested them!
So we finally get the boxes and return the equipment thinking that's the end.
No such luck. When we signed up I agreed to the automatic payment plan, they would debit my bank account each month. They continued to take funds from my bank in April, May. My husband called them about it but the rep. that he spoke with said she didn't know why this had happened but that she would look into it and get back to us, which, big surprise, never happened. My husband made it very clear that they were not authorized to take any more money from our bank account.
We were able to work with the bank and they got the money back for us from April and May.
So last week I get another freaking bill from these idiots! And a so called "past due" one to boot! Also we were charged for PPV movies dated well after we had returned all of the equipment. how in the world could we have ordered any movies when we didn't even have the equipment at that point?! They also tacked on things like a "relocation fee". Relocation fee?! Where the heck did we relocate to?
I am receiving between 4 to 6 calls a day from these yahoos! Also they call on Sundays, am I naive in thinking that that was not allowed?
This is making me crazy! And I'm worried that it is going to affect our credit also.
I do want to thank those of you who explained the steps to take against them.
But honestly this is the last thing I need to be dealing with right now. My father recently passed away and now my mother is terminally ill. I have enough to deal with without having to deal with these jerks!
OMG! My phone is ringing right now from them. LOL Ridiculous!

I have been getting calls from this number several time a day all hours 7:45am to 9:30pm looking for my son.  He called them they said he owes money for Direct TV!  Thats funny because he lives at home and doesn't need Direct TV because WE HAVE IT, and the bill is paid automatically monthly!  They keep asking if I'm his wife several time everyday I tell them he is NOT married and that I am his mother!  Today I had had it!  I told them to remove my number!  I called my son he said he would call them again.  I told a young mans supervisor of this CBE Group Inc. If I get another call from this company the next contact they have from this number will be from my attorney! :)  We'll see if they call back, I'm not one to make threats and then drop it.... I had 5 calls yesterday, and two already this AM by 9:39am.

OH yah, thats it pay them money when you don't owe them any, that will really make them leave you alone!  YOU knuckle head if you  don't owe, you DON"T PAY!!!!

I don't have DTV and I just changed my phone # and they called me. I'm not sure who it was bc i didnt answer.

They call constantly and I have signed up to block solicitation calls.  When I called them, they would not say who they were!

I do not nor never had nor will have direct t.v. do not call anymore.

Call them back, some cheesy automatic recording is going to say your name and info.
Press 2, it'll deny that you're .... Well.... You....
Press 2 again, it'll send you to an agent.
Tell the agent that you've been receiving calls from them and you're not who they want. (they remove you from their list immediately, now I can sleep my mornings :))

I received 2 calls today and I paid my bill last friday....  ANNOYING!!!

This number keeps calling my cell phone!  No idea how they got my # - I read some of the posts - have never used Direct TV.

I have received multiple calls from this number along with direct tv's customer service line. Direct tv left a message with the name and account number of the person theyre looking for. All I had to do was call both numbers and explain I have never known this person and do not know how to get in contact with them. I also told them I have never had direct tv and don't even watch tv. They said they removed my number from their system. So far, it's been 4 days and no calls. Hoping that solved the problem.

I keep getting these calls from this number. I dont know why they keep calling. I told them that the person they are looking for isnt at this number but they continue to call.

To Scott West: I have never had Direct TV, so there is no way I owe them money. Can you explain why I keep getting calls from them? Very early morning until bed time, several times a day. It has been going on for months now. What excuse do you have for THIS? What you people are doing is ILLEGAL. I won't pay for something that I DON'T OWE.

I'll get the calls stopped by having my phone number changed....and make sure I NEVER order Direct TV.

http://www.consumerjustice.com/consumer/agencydetail.aspx?id=7499
The CBE Group SW, Inc.  
131 Tower Park Drive, Suite 100
Waterloo, Iowa, 50701
www.cbegroup.com


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Phone No.  800-925-6686 319-234-6686  
Fax 319-235-1996  

Thomas R. Penaluna, C.E.O.


1) Never assume they have a VALID DEBT OR LEGAL RIGHT TO COLLECT
 
2) Debt collectors MUST FOLLOW your STATE laws regarding licensing.  Check your Secretary of State for licensing requirements for ANY collection agency that contacts you

Debt Collectors DO NOT WANT YOU TO KNOW THIS INFORMATION!    
The INFORMED CONSUMER IS THE DEBT COLLECTORS WORST ENEMY!

THE CORRECT WAY TO HANDLE COLLECTION CALLS AND ILLEGAL TACTICS

READ DEALING WITH DEBT COLLECTORS, RECORDING CALLS AND STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS BY STATE

You can also post your questions here http://www.collectorsexposed.com/forum/   NEW URL!    

These links are to attorneys for those being scammed www.naca.net or http://www.consumerjustice.com/consumer/searchattorneys.aspx


Dealing with Debt Collectors
Http://www.budhibbs.com/First.htm    
    
Statute of Limitations by State – always double check YOUR OWN STATE Government Website
http://www.budhibbs.com/statute_of_limitations.htm

Recording calls from Debt Collectors - always double check YOUR OWN STATE Government Website
http://www.budhibbs.com/record.htm


From Federal Trade Commission Website – FAIR DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES ACT
Debt Collection FAQs: A Guide for Consumers
If you’re behind in paying your bills, or a creditor’s records mistakenly make it appear that you are, a debt collector may be contacting you.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, enforces the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), which prohibits debt collectors from using abusive, unfair, or deceptive practices to collect from you.
Under the FDCPA, a debt collector is someone who regularly collects debts owed to others. This includes collection agencies, lawyers who collect debts on a regular basis, and companies that buy delinquent debts and then try to collect them.
Here are some questions and answers about your rights under the Act.

What types of debts are covered?
The Act covers personal, family, and household debts, including money you owe on a personal credit card account, an auto loan, a medical bill, and your mortgage. The FDCPA doesn’t cover debts you incurred to run a business.

Can a debt collector contact me any time or any place?
No. A debt collector may not contact you at inconvenient times or places, such as before 8 in the morning or after 9 at night, unless you agree to it. And collectors may not contact you at work if they’re told (orally or in writing) that you’re not allowed to get calls there.

How can I stop a debt collector from contacting me?
If a collector contacts you about a debt, you may want to talk to them at least once to see if you can resolve the matter – even if you don’t think you owe the debt, can’t repay it immediately, or think that the collector is contacting you by mistake. If you decide after contacting the debt collector that you don’t want the collector to contact you again, tell the collector – in writing – to stop contacting you. Here’s how to do that:
Make a copy of your letter. Send the original by certified mail, and pay for a “return receipt” so you’ll be able to document what the collector received. Once the collector receives your letter, they may not contact you again, with two exceptions: a collector can contact you to tell you there will be no further contact or to let you know that they or the creditor intend to take a specific action, like filing a lawsuit. Sending such a letter to a debt collector you owe money to does not get rid of the debt, but it should stop the contact. The creditor or the debt collector still can sue you to collect the debt.

Can a debt collector contact anyone else about my debt?
If an attorney is representing you about the debt, the debt collector must contact the attorney, rather than you. If you don’t have an attorney, a collector may contact other people – but only to find out your address, your home phone number, and where you work. Collectors usually are prohibited from contacting third parties more than once. Other than to obtain this location information about you, a debt collector generally is not permitted to discuss your debt with anyone other than you, your spouse, or your attorney.

What does the debt collector have to tell me about the debt?
Every collector must send you a written “validation notice” telling you how much money you owe within five days after they first contact you. This notice also must include the name of the creditor to whom you owe the money, and how to proceed if you don’t think you owe the money.

Can a debt collector keep contacting me if I don’t think I owe any money?
If you send the debt collector a letter stating that you don’t owe any or all of the money, or asking for verification of the debt, that collector must stop contacting you. You have to send that letter within 30 days after you receive the validation notice. But a collector can begin contacting you again if it sends you written verification of the debt, like a copy of a bill for the amount you owe.

What practices are off limits for debt collectors?
Harassment. Debt collectors may not harass, oppress, or abuse you or any third parties they contact. For example, they may not:
    use threats of violence or harm;
    publish a list of names of people who refuse to pay their debts (but they can give this information to the credit reporting companies);
    use obscene or profane language; or
    repeatedly use the phone to annoy someone.

False statements. Debt collectors may not lie when they are trying to collect a debt. For example, they may not:
    falsely claim that they are attorneys or government representatives;
    falsely claim that you have committed a crime;
    falsely represent that they operate or work for a credit reporting company;
    misrepresent the amount you owe;
    indicate that papers they send you are legal forms if they aren’t; or
    indicate that papers they send to you aren’t legal forms if they are.

Debt collectors also are prohibited from saying that:
    you will be arrested if you don’t pay your debt;
    they’ll seize, garnish, attach, or sell your property or wages unless they are permitted by law to take the action and intend to do so; or
    legal action will be taken against you, if doing so would be illegal or if they don’t intend to take the action.

Debt collectors may not:
    give false credit information about you to anyone, including a credit reporting company;
    send you anything that looks like an official document from a court or government agency if it isn’t; or
    use a false company name.

Unfair practices. Debt collectors may not engage in unfair practices when they try to collect a debt. For example, they may not:
    try to collect any interest, fee, or other charge on top of the amount you owe unless the contract that created your debt – or your state law – allows the charge;
    deposit a post-dated check early;
    take or threaten to take your property unless it can be done legally; or
    contact you by postcard.

Can I control which debts my payments apply to?
Yes. If a debt collector is trying to collect more than one debt from you, the collector must apply any payment you make to the debt you select. Equally important, a debt collector may not apply a payment to a debt you don’t think you owe.

Can a debt collector garnish my bank account or my wages?
If you don’t pay a debt, a creditor or its debt collector generally can sue you to collect. If they win, the court will enter a judgment against you. The judgment states the amount of money you owe, and allows the creditor or collector to get a garnishment order against you, directing a third party, like your bank, to turn over funds from your account to pay the debt.
Wage garnishment happens when your employer withholds part of your compensation to pay your debts. Your wages usually can be garnished only as the result of a court order. Don’t ignore a lawsuit summons. If you do, you lose the opportunity to fight a wage garnishment.

Can federal benefits be garnished?
Many federal benefits are exempt from garnishment, including:
    Social Security Benefits
    Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Benefits
    Veterans’ Benefits
    Civil Service and Federal Retirement and Disability Benefits
    Service Members’ Pay
    Military Annuities and Survivors’ Benefits
    Student Assistance
    Railroad Retirement Benefits
    Merchant Seamen Wages
    Longshoremen’s and Harbor Workers’ Death and Disability Benefits
    Foreign Service Retirement and Disability Benefits
    Compensation for Injury, Death, or Detention of Employees of U.S. Contractors Outside the U.S.
    Federal Emergency Management Agency Federal Disaster Assistance
But federal benefits may be garnished under certain circumstances, including to pay delinquent taxes, alimony, child support, or student loans.

Do I have any recourse if I think a debt collector has violated the law?
You have the right to sue a collector in a state or federal court within one year from the date the law was violated. If you win, the judge can require the collector to pay you for any damages you can prove you suffered because of the illegal collection practices, like lost wages and medical bills. The judge can require the debt collector to pay you up to $1,000, even if you can’t prove that you suffered actual damages. You also can be reimbursed for your attorney’s fees and court costs. A group of people also may sue a debt collector as part of a class action lawsuit and recover money for damages up to $500,000, or one percent of the collector’s net worth, whichever amount is lower. Even if a debt collector violates the FDCPA in trying to collect a debt, the debt does not go away if you owe it.

What should I do if a debt collector sues me?
If a debt collector files a lawsuit against you to collect a debt, respond to the lawsuit, either personally or through your lawyer, by the date specified in the court papers to preserve your rights.

Where do I report a debt collector for an alleged violation?
Report any problems you have with a debt collector to your state Attorney General’s office (www.naag.org) and the Federal Trade Commission (www.ftc.gov). Many states have their own debt collection laws that are different from the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Your Attorney General’s office can help you determine your rights under your state’s law.

For More Information
To learn more about debt collection and other credit-related issues, visit www.ftc.gov/credit and MyMoney.gov, the U.S. government’s portal to financial education.
The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues, visit ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters consumer complaints into the Consumer Sentinel Network, a secure online database and investigative tool used by hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad
February 2009

File complaints with

Federal Trade Commission  https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/FTC_Wizard.aspx?Lang=en

Your State Attorney General
State Attorney General is every state they have offices

Link to all State Attorney General Websites www.naag.org

If you or they are located in NY – use this SPECIAL Link  www.NYDebtHelp.com
This special website was created by NY AG Andrew Cuomo specifically for reporting illegal debt collection practices.  HE’S CRACKING DOWN AND SHUTTING THEM DOWN!
    
Also report your calls and contacts with debt collectors at http://www.budhibbs.com/index.html  If the company is listed under agencies – report there. If not on the list YET, click on Watchlist! and add to the list.   You can also post here http://www.collectorsexposed.com/forum2/index.php?board=2.0




Time-Barred Debts
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt144.shtm

There’s no doubt about it: you are responsible for your debts. If you fall behind in paying your creditors — or if you dispute the legitimacy of a debt — a debt collector may contact you.

“Time-barred” debts are debts so old they are beyond the point at which a creditor or debt collector may sue you to collect. State law varies as to when a creditor or debt collector may no longer sue to collect: in most states, the statute of limitations period on debts is between 3 and 10 years; in some states, the period is longer. Check with your State Attorney General’s Office to determine when a debt is considered time-barred in your state. You can find contact information for your State Attorney General at www.naag.org.

Federal law imposes limitations on how debt collectors can collect debts, including time-barred debts. Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), a “debt collector” generally is any person or organization that regularly collects debts owed to others. The term includes lawyers who collect debts for others on a regular basis, but it does not include creditors collecting their own debts.

The FDCPA prohibits debt collectors from engaging in any unfair, deceptive, or abusive practices while collecting debts. It does not erase any legitimate debt that you owe. To learn more about your rights under the FDCPA, click on www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/fdc.htm.
Collecting Time-Barred Debts

Most courts that have addressed the issue have ruled that the FDCPA does not prohibit debt collectors from trying to collect time-barred debts, as long as they do not sue or threaten to sue you for the debt. If a debt collector sues you to collect a time-barred debt, you can have the suit dismissed by letting the court or judge know the debt is, indeed, time-barred.

Whether a time-barred debt — or any debt for that matter — can appear on your credit report depends on how long the debt has been delinquent: debts that have been delinquent more than seven years cannot appear on your credit report, with certain exceptions. In addition, a debt collector may not try to collect a debt that has been discharged in bankruptcy, no matter when it was incurred. To learn more about credit reporting, click on www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/fcra.htm.
Contact with Collectors

Can a debt collector continue to contact you about a time-barred debt you don’t think you owe? According to the law, if you send the debt collector a letter stating that you do not owe some or all of the money within 30 days after you receive written notice of a debt, the collector must stop trying to collect until you’ve been given written verification of the debt, like a copy of the bill for the amount you supposedly owe. The collector can renew collection activities once you’ve gotten proof of the debt.

You can stop debt collectors from contacting you about any debt, regardless of whether you owe it, by writing a letter telling them to stop contacting you. Once the collector gets your letter, it may not contact you again — except to say there will be no further contact or to let you know that the collector or creditor intends to take some specific action. Sending a letter doesn’t absolve you of the debt if you actually owe it; the debt collector or creditor still could sue you for the debt.
Future Collection Efforts

The best way to protect yourself from future collection on any disputed or partially settled debt is to get a form or letter from the creditor or collector that releases you from further obligation. To make sure the release is valid, you may want to consult an attorney. If you believe that a debt collector violated the law, you have the right to sue in a state or federal court within a year from the date the law was violated. If you win, you may recover money for the damages you suffered, plus an additional amount up to $1,000. You also may recover court costs and attorney’s fees. You also may want to report any problems you have with a debt collector to your State Attorney General and to the Federal Trade Commission.

The FTC works to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop and avoid them. To file a complaint or get free information on consumer issues, visit ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. Watch a new video, How to File a Complaint, at ftc.gov/video to learn more. The FTC enters consumer complaints into the Consumer Sentinel Network, a secure online database and investigative tool used by hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.
October 2004

this #319 274 1094 calls me everyday. i cant get them to stop!!! I have no idea what ta do about it.

Direct tv and dish network are affiliated at some level (i've been told).
They, dish, claim that I owe 15.00.  
I have already placed a letter of dispute-as i was told one story by the company one day and another story another day. (What kind of training do they give their minimum wage staff?)  And they left their eyesore dish on my roof for me to remove!
My credit card company stopped payment on them or else they would have gotten the tiny disputed amount along time ago.  How much man hours do they waste on this kind of stuff?  I know some have large bills that should take some kind of responsibility as our country is carrying a lot of people who might be able to work but don't.  Others have real problems and need help.  Wow, what a mess.

Calls my cell phone twice a day every weekday. I pay my bills so this is BS.
This company needs to be stopped in their tracks!
How is this not possible after all the unlawful tactics they are using?
How can we euthanize this wild & rabid company?
I also think that w can not even reefer to them as a company.  
A must read about the tyrants at this company...
http://complaintagainstcbegroup.wordpress.com/category/thomas-r-penaluna/

Advised CBE on a call back after the automated system provided and 800 number to remove my number 817-282-4007 from their system in September.  Continuous calling continued afterwards with the automatic dialer.  Today 11/14/2015 9:03 in the morning I am woken up with a call on a phone that my husband and I use just for Fax and alarm so I answer.  I hit 1 wanting to speak to someone to get this corrected again and spoke with an agent.  Then spoke to the floor captain, ask to speak to management and was disconnected.  Reviewed online backed this back to Verizon called Verizon sent to the collections department.  Advised I would like in writing that this time my phone number has been removed from their system.  Reffered to write to the Executive relations department.  Executive Relations PO Box 553, Warrendale, PA 15086.  Asked for the Office of the President and or Legal and was shot down.  I am a former Litigation Manager and this is a clear violation daily with FDCPA at this point I want to pursue CBE/Verizon and get their policies corrected.